Emmanuel Macron Hits Record Low Approval Amid Growing Public Distrust

President Emmanuel Macron's approval rating has plunged to a historic low, signaling deepening public dissatisfaction and mistrust. According to a recent Elabe poll for "Les Echos," Macron's confidence rating dropped to 14%, marking the lowest point since this barometer began. This is a sharp fall of three points in the last month and a total decline of 13 points since March 2025. The poll reveals a shift in public sentiment from unpopularity to outright hostility, with 82% of French citizens expressing distrust towards Macron and 59% indicating total distrust.

Notably, support even among Macron's 2022 presidential first-round voters has waned to 38%, down seven points. Public criticism concentrates on perceptions of Macron’s disconnect from domestic issues, an excessive focus on international affairs, and the chaotic political atmosphere following the government's recent dissolution. Analysts interpret these findings as reflecting growing frustration with Macron's leadership and uncertainty in France's political landscape.

In parallel, political divisions persist, exemplified by Edouard Philippe and the Horizons party's stance rejecting any suspension of the 2023 pension reform despite ongoing crisis negotiations, citing the need to uphold the reform's aim of encouraging longer working years.

This stark decline in approval underscores the acute challenges facing Macron as he navigates both public discontent and political fragmentation, with implications for his ability to stabilize governance and restore trust in his presidency.